Florida businessman Rick Scott holds a 43 - 32 percent lead over State Attorney General Bill
McCollum for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, according to a Quinnipiac University
poll of likely primary voters released today. Another 23 percent are undecided and 43 percent of
those who do name a candidate say they might change their mind.

In the race for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, businessman Jeff Greene
has jumped to a 33 - 23 percent lead over U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, with former Miami Mayor
Maurice Ferre at 4 percent. But 35 percent are undecided and 54 percent of those who name a
candidate say they might change their mind.

Scott's lead, compared to 44 - 31 percent in a June 10 survey by the independent
Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University, strongly correlates with voter preference for a
candidate who is a government outsider rather than one with longtime government experience.
Scott, who is independently wealthy, is a former health care executive who has never held
political office.

The same is true for Greene, who has leapfrogged Meek who had 29 percent June 10,
compared to Greene's 27 percent.

"If there was any doubt that enough money can make a political unknown into a front-
runner, the Democratic Senate primary and the Republican primary for governor should lay them
to rest," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Both Greene and Scott have come from nowhere to hold double-digit leads with just a
little more than three weeks until the voting."

"Anything can happen in the interim, but since their opponents are unlikely to outspend
them down the home stretch, they are both in enviable positions," Brown added. "Both men also
are being helped by the national anti-incumbent, anti-establishment wave evident in other
primaries. Both men have battled their respective party hierarchies, quite successfully at this
point."

Asked which "type of candidate would you prefer to see as governor - someone with
years of government experience or a government outsider," likely GOP primary voters opted for
the outsider 54 - 28 percent, an outcome which apparently benefits Scott.

"In most election years, McCollum's almost two decades of experience in government
would be a major asset, but this year it appears to be a liability, since Scott has scored points
labeling his opponent a 'career politician,'" Brown said.

Although Greene holds a double-digit lead in the Democratic primary, likely voters say
44 - 35 percent that they would prefer a candidate with long government experience.

Greene's favorability among likely Democratic primary voters is 31 - 18 percent, with 47
percent who say they don't know enough about him to form an opinion. Meek gets a 28 - 13
percent favorability, with 55 percent who don't know enough about him.

By 26 - 21 percent they say Greene most shares their values, with 46 percent undecided.
By 22 - 16 percent they say Meek is more consistently liberal, with 57 percent undecided.

From July 22 - 27, Quinnipiac University surveyed 760 Republican likely primary voters
with a margin of error of +/- 3.6 percentage points and 782 Democratic likely primary voters with
a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points. These likely voters were selected from lists of
people who have voted in past elections.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the
nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
THE FOLLOWING RESULTS ARE BASED ON A POLL OF 760 LIKELY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS

1R. If the Republican primary for Governor were being held today, would you
vote for Bill McCollum or Rick Scott? (If undecided q1R) As of today, would
you say that you lean a little more toward McCollum or Scott? This table
includes "Leaners".

TREND: If the Republican primary for Governor were being held today, would you
vote for Bill McCollum or Rick Scott? (If undecided) As of today, would you say
that you lean a little more toward McCollum or Scott? This table includes
"Leaners".

THE FOLLOWING RESULTS ARE BASED ON A POLL OF 782 LIKELY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
VOTERS
1D. If the Democratic primary for United States Senator were being held today,
would you vote for Kendrick Meek, Maurice Ferre, or Jeff Greene? (If undecided
q1D) As of today, would you say that you lean a little more toward Meek,
Ferre, or Greene? This table includes "Leaners".

TREND: If the Democratic primary for United States Senator were being held
today, would you vote for Kendrick Meek, Maurice Ferre, or Jeff Greene?
(If undecided) As of today, would you say that you lean a little more toward
Meek, Ferre, or Greene? This table includes "Leaners".